The advisory for travellers to avoid cruises at this time was renewed on February 9 by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The health authority also continues to refine its recommendations and protocols for cruises. Yesterday’s announcement came as the overall case rate for COVID has been on the decline in the U.S. Many state and local authorities have moved to end renewed protocols. This, prompting the cruise industry to respond saying it was “dismayed.” by what it viewed as unnecessary and discriminatory actions by the CDC. The industry’s strongly-worded response highlighted the multi-layered mitigation measures. The cruise lines are content, they are effective and should be a model for others.
“Against this backdrop, we continue to be dismayed by the CDC’s decision to maintain any Travel Health Notice for cruise.” This quoted by Cruise Lines International Association, the industry trade group. “Regrettably, upon initial review, the latest CDC guidance appears out of step with the actual public health conditions. On cruise ships and unnecessary in light of societal trends away from more restrictive measures. We are confounded by the CDC’s imposition of even more complex and unwarranted measures. Which ignore empirical evidence that the industry’s protocols have provided a greater level of COVID mitigation. Than most any other setting.”
